An Annual Rite Of Spring: Shoppers Donated To Goodwill During Bon-Ton Stores Goodwill® Sale

Donations to Provide 250,000 Hours of Goodwill Services in Bon-Ton's Local Communities

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Apr 25, 2017, 08:00 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Customers of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: BONT) 262 stores donated more than 564,000 dollars in cash donations, the most dollars ever collected from its customers, and 1.4 million pounds of used clothing, textiles and household items during the company's semiannual Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale, from March 15 through April 3, 2017. Revenue from the sale of these donations at Goodwill stores in Bon-Ton communities will provide the means to create 250,000 hours of job training, skills attainment and other community-based services.

“The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. presents a ceremonial check to Goodwill for $564,725, the most dollars ever collected from customers during a Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale. Lisa Waltman (middle), of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., presents the check to Jennifer Ross (right) and Melinda Hawes (left) of the Goodwill Keystone Area, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA. Ross and Hawes accept the check on behalf of the Goodwill network.” Photo credit: Jeff Lynch

Operating in 25 states, the Bon-Ton nameplates include Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers. During the 18-day sale event, customers dropped off donated goods and received coupons for up to 30 percent off new spring fashions.

"Goodwill would not be able to fulfill its mission without the generous donations that support our programs and services that help people build their skills and find jobs," said Kim Zimmer, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of global development of Goodwill Industries International. "We salute Bon-Ton and its wonderful customers for heeding the call to make a difference in their communities for people facing challenges to finding employment."

As with all donations received by Goodwill, items collected during the Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale are sold in Goodwill stores, and the revenue from those sales is used to create employment training, skills development, education and job placement for people in local communities. In addition, Goodwill organizations help equip people to change their lives with careers in fields such as automotive services, construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality, retail and other high-demand industries.

"We continue to be amazed and touched by the generosity of our customers during this signature cause-marketing event, now in its 23rd year," said Kathryn Bufano, president and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "We are grateful for the many donations that help our friends and neighbors in the community find jobs."

Customers take part in the event twice a year, each spring and fall, to donate the items they no longer need to Goodwill and save on new merchandise at Bon-Ton. The Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale represents the largest and longest-standing cause partnership and department store donation drive for Goodwill.

About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 162 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 13 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization's highest rating for charities. GII was also ranked by Enso as the #1 brand doing the most good in the world, and was the only nonprofit brand rated in Forbes' 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years. Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that create job training programs, employment placement and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,200 stores collectively and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill organizations also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food services preparation, and document imaging and shredding. Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed 313,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 34 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills.

To learn more, visit goodwill.org. For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at Goodwill.org or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl or Instagram: GoodwillIntl.

About The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 262 stores, which includes nine furniture galleries and four clearance centers, in 25 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates. The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is an active and positive participant in the communities it serves. For further information, please visit thebontonstoresinc.com or the company's web site at bonton.com. Join the conversation and be inspired by following Bon-Ton on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and the fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog, #LoveStyle.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International